This Week's News & Notices
Lockdown Response
As we have now entered another lockdown unfortunately we can no longer open for public worship on a Sunday. We are still waiting to be updated as to how the restrictions affect us specifically, but we will continue to worship online at 10am on Sundays as usual.
As soon as we know more, we will let you know.
If you are on a rota to read or lead the intercessions, we will get in touch about how you can still help to lead us in worship.
Click or tap on the link below to access our videos. You can watch YouTube videos on all computers, phones and devices, and even on your smart TV!
We will still be open for Private Prayer on Wednesdays as usual.
Head to our YouTube Channel to join us Live at 10am on Sunday, and access other videos. You can do that by clicking or tapping on the link below:
Remembrance Sunday Flowers
A few close-ups of the flowers in church for Remembrance Sunday.
When you go home tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow we gave our today
The Poppy Appeal 2020
You can visit the Royal British Legion website and download a poppy poster for your window or a poppy colouring sheet and both are free. You can of course support the Poppy Appeal by making a donation through this website too.
You can also view the Poppy Appeal 2020 Video from the Royal British Legion below:
Private Prayer
Church is open for Private Prayer from 9am on Wednesdays in church until midday for those who wish to visit during these times and all are welcome to attend. Face coverings must be worn.
The Parish Office
Dot and Carol continue to work from home. Phone messages or emails will be checked regularly and correspondence can be popped through the letterbox in the north door and will be responded to as soon as possible.
100 Club November winners
£50 Olivia Pratt, £30 Bryan Young, £20 William Walker.
NEW Contact Groups
In previous years St Mary’s had a system of Contact Groups to encourage regular congregation members to look out for one another in an informal way. As we face a winter of lockdown and restrictions on how and who we can meet, St Mary’s Staff Team are proposing to resurrect this scheme. Read more in the letter to the Congregation below:
News from Anne Otter
Anne Otter has now moved not too far away and we send our love and best wishes to Anne in her new home. Do contact the office if you’d like to have Anne’s new address. Anne is hoping to attend a church service once we are allowed to open again on a Sunday and we look forward to seeing Anne then.
Thanks for prayers
“I was delighted when Clare Connors, a long-standing friend of mine, suggested going on your prayer list. I had major surgery just over two weeks ago and have made a very good recovery. I’m back at home now and improving all the time”. Shirley Williams
Prayer Shawl thanks
“A very big thankyou to my friends at St Mary’s who have sent me such a beautiful prayer shawl. It is indeed a great comfort to feel its warmth and love around me as I continue in my recovery. Thank you so very much for thinking of me. Sending love and prayers to you all". Jennifer Stephenson
Coffee Morning this Tuesday
Our next Online Coffee Morning is on Tuesday 10th November. If you are able to join us online between 10:30am and 11:15am we’d love to see you.
Click the link above, or go to ‘Events’ on our website to RSVP and get a link to join via Zoom. You would need to click on RSVP and enter your name and email address and click on ‘submit’. An email is then sent to you with a link to the Coffee Morning.
A Call to Prayer for the nation
The Church of England has called on us all to unite as a nation in prayer every day at 6pm using the following prayer topics:
Sunday - family, friends, and loved ones.
Monday - Schools, colleges, kids and young people.
Tuesday - The elderly, the isolated, and vulnerable.
Wednesday - Businesses, workplaces, and the economic well being of all
Thursday - NHS and other key workers.
Friday - national and local government.
Saturday - the grieving, suffering and unwell.
Find out more from the Church of England website here.
Plants Sale for Church Funds: New Website
Dave Haddock who has been selling his plants to us over the summer has now put all of his new stock on his new website, including an easy order form.
Or you can contact Dave on 0191 2524985 or 07976 687973. 30% of sales will be donated to St Mary’s, so be sure to mention St Mary’s when you order! So far £260 has been raised through this scheme. So spread the word!
Are you in a bubble?
We are aware that there are some people living alone who are not part of a support bubble. If this is you, have you considered forming a support bubble with another household? It could be you and another ‘single adult household’ or it could be you and a couple or family. It doesn’t have to be a member of your family—you can be in a bubble with any household. Once you’re in a bubble you can have all the benefits of all being in one household—you can see each other, go round for tea etc. If you’re on your own and you’re not in a bubble, why not think about forming one. Or you can get in touch with us and we’ll see if there are others in your situation that you could ‘bubble’ with. Perhaps you are a family or couple that has no bubble, and you’d be happy to support others on their own? Get in touch. Always check with your next of kin—once you are in a bubble you are advised not to form any other bubble—including with your own family.
For more information visit the government website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-a-support-bubble-with-another-household
Derek's Book
Derek’s book ‘Scripture Messages’ now has been renamed ‘A Light To My Path’ and is available to order from Waterstone’s in Newcastle and from Amazon.co.uk. The new version has a foreword by Tony Garland along with a dedication and has some reviews at the back.
The Bay Foodbank
Please continue to donate non-perishable items at Sainsbury’s & Morrison’s.
For your prayers this week:
Your Prayers are requested for
Martin Cooper
Rona Lawrie
Don
Emma Campbell
Michael Hampson
Albert Rider
Olya Bouchard
Pat Brown
Norman Searle
Rest in Peace
Edna Davis
James Hunt
Don’t forget, you can add someone to the prayer list by emailing or phoning as usual, but you need to get their permission before adding them to the sick list. You can also use the form on the website here to submit a prayer request online.
Remembrance Sunday's Hymns & Readings
Collect
God, our refuge and strength,
bring near the day when wars shall cease
and poverty and pain shall end,
that earth may know the peace of heaven
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
A Reading from the Wisdom Of Solomon
Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her. She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her. One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for she will be found sitting at the gate. To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding, and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care, because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought.
Wisdom of Solomon 6: 12-16
A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord for ever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Thessalonians 4: 13-end
The Gospel According to Matthew
Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the wise replied, “No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.” Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Matthew 25: 1-13
Offertory Hymn
O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home;
Under the shadow of thy throne
thy saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is thine arm alone,
and our defence is sure.
Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received her frame,
from everlasting thou art God,
to endless years the same.
Isaac Watts
Communion Anthem
Lux æterna luceat eis, Domine: Cum Sanctis tuis in æternum: quia pius es. Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis. Cum Sanctis tuis in æternum: quia pius es.
May light eternal shine upon them, O Lord, with thy saints for evermore: for thou art gracious. Eternal rest give to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them: With thy saints for evermore, for thou art gracious.
Sir Edward Elgar (Nimrod from Enigma Variations)
℗ Decca Music Group Ltd.
The National Anthem
God save our gracious Queen.
Long live our noble Queen.
God save the Queen.
Send her victorious,
happy and glorious,
long to reign over us.
God save our Queen.
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